Norma Christina Elizabeth Wagstaff was born the daughter of Norman Reuel Wagstaff, a Lieutenant in the
Royal Artillery, and Edith Georgina Wagstaff (née Johnson), a former umbrella saleswoman. She was born in
Shropshire while her father was stationed there during World War II. He was killed in a motorcycle accident a few days after the end of the
Second World War, when Norma was just three years old, and her mother subsequently reverted to using her maiden name after becoming estranged from her in-laws, so she was known as
Norma Johnson growing up. Major was educated at a boarding school in
Bexhill-on-Sea,
Oakfield Preparatory School in
Dulwich, and Peckham School for Girls where she was
head girl. She was a skilled
dressmaker. ==Marriage==